Program Director:  Manny Torres

Manny Torres has been a self-motivated, energetic baseball player with a positive attitude since the age of four. He is currently the Pitching Coach at Fairfield University, and Director of the Technique Tigers Future Stars Baseball Academy, where he has instructed and guided over 400 area youth in private baseball lessons, baseball academies, camps, clinics, and group workouts.

Manny attended St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, CT, where he played basketball and baseball.  His real passion was baseball - and it showed.  Manny was on Connecticut’s 1994 and 1995 All-State teams, and in 1995 was selected as both the Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Today Connecticut Player of the Year.

The Texas Rangers selected Manny in the 28th round of the 1995 Amateur Baseball Draft, but he chose to attend the University of Alabama on a baseball scholarship.  During his time at Alabama, Manny was Freshman and NCWBA All-American and All-SEC (Southeastern Conference).  He was a member of the 1996 SEC championship team and 1996, 1997 and 1999 SEC Tournament Champions, and played in the 1996, 1997, and 1999 College World Series.  In 2004, Manny was selected to the 10 Anniversary All-Jim Wells Team named for the Alabama baseball coach, Jim Wells.

Manny’s college career pitching record was an outstanding 21-4.   He signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds – but after recurring injuries was forced to find a new passion in life.  Thus came about his experiences working with kids and teaching the sport he has loved all of his life — baseball.  In addition to directing the Future Stars Tigers Academy and Travel Baseball Programs, Manny is the pitching coach for the Fairfield University Stags.

As you can see, Manny is in his chosen fields for the right reasons as he is more than passionate about working with area youth.  It is simply the one and only career he can now see himself doing.  Manny is a strong leader and great role model who has the ability to responsibly direct today’s youth.  One of Manny's personal best accomplishment's is receiving a B.S. degree from  the University of Alabama, Human Performance 2001.

Program Administrator:

MICKEY MALDONADO

Seeking a baseball league for her 10 year old son to play in brought Mickey to Seaside Park where she found a team practicing on Diamond 6. This led her to signing her son to play with the Mustang Division in the Christian Brotherhood League ("CBL"), a Pony Baseball Organization.  She volunteered by keeping the scorebook for her son’s, and ironically, Manny Torres’ team.  She was nominated and elected as Secretary for the following baseball year. In her 15 years with CBL, Mickey wore many hats serving as Team Mom, Secretary, Treasurer, Business Manager, Division Director and President for 25 Pony baseball and softball teams. During these years, she travelled with teams to New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.

In 1994, Mickey assisted in bringing RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, a Major League Baseball youth program) to Bridgeport.  She served as the Program Director for several years and was Business Manager for two teams that travelled to California (Senior Division) and Florida (Junior Division) to play in the RBI World Series.

Mickey currently works as an Executive Assistant for one of the Big Four Accounting Firms.  She has been serving as Program Administrator for the Technique Tigers/Future Stars Baseball Academy since 2007.

“Mickey is the backbone of this whole operation.  She is responsible for keeping this whole thing in line. I am completely spoiled to have someone like Mickey handling the organization of all of this. She is like a mom to me on the baseball field.  I grew up playing baseball in CBL with Mickey in the dugout.  She has seen me laugh, cry, complain, argue, panic, etc. but she always maintained a positive outlook no matter what situation we were confronted with.  Mickey has been committed to youth baseball since I met her when I was 10.  Her love for the game is undeniable.  Mickey I love you and thank you for all you do. YOU’RE THE BEST!!!” Manny Torres.

Ramon Sanchez

Technique Tigers/Future Stars Baseball Academy Coach:

RAMON SANCHEZ

Coach Ramon Sanchez is a Bridgeport Native who attended Housatonic Community College for two years and was the starting second baseman on the 1995 Housatonic Junior College World Series team.  Ramon batted .400 in JUCO World Series and graduated with an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

Coach Ramon then took his talents to University of Bridgeport where he was a Tri-Captain and had a team high batting average his senior season .351 BA.  Ramon graduated from the University of Bridgeport in 1999 with a bachelor degree in Social Science concentration in Psychology and Associate Paralegal Degree.  Ramon has worked with at-risk youth and underprivileged families since 1999. 

Side-by-side with Coach Arjune, Ramon works with middle infielder, hitting and base running throughout the Technique Baseball program.  Coach Sanchez and Arjune are two of the best middle infield coaches in the State of Connecticut. 

“Coach Sanchez is a coach that all players love to have.  He is great with the kids on a personal level as well as teaching the fundamentals of the game.  His strength is communication with players on all levels, whether it’s a game situation or a life situation.  His commitment and effort to the kids in our program is incredible.  Coach Sanchez puts in countless hours of work with the kids and he has been great to work with.  I have a tremendous amount of respect for his knowledge of the game.  He is a vital component to the success our program has had thus far." Manny Torres

Technique Tigers/Future Stars Baseball Academy Coach:

VINNIE ARJUNE

Coach Vinnie Arjune started his baseball career playing in the Parade Grounds in Brooklyn, NY.  At the age of 12, Vinnie was selected to play in the New York Ambassadors Game in Tokyo.  Vinnie attended Bishop Ford High School where he won several team MVP awards.  In 1994, Vinnie was named the New York City Player of the Year and Gold Glove Award winner.  Vinnie went on to Milford Academy his senior year of high school and was awarded the team's MVP award, but most importantly graduated as the class Salutatorian.

Vinnie was awarded a baseball and academic scholarship to the University of Bridgeport.  A four year starter with the Purple Knights, anchoring a strong defense at shortstop, Vinnie played middle infield with Coach Sanchez for two years.  He was awarded the MVP award his sophomore and junior years.  Vinnie graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Services, and has worked for the State of Connecticut as a child abuse investigator.

Vinnie started his coaching at North End Little League in 2005. In 2006, he led his 15 and 16 year olds to Connecticut's first Junior League State Championship since 1953.  Vinnie works with middle infielders throughout the Tiger program. He and Coach Sanchez are two of the best middle-infield coaches in the state.  Teaching the running game is also a strong point for Coaches Arjune and Sanchez.

"Coach Vinnie is a fiery type of coach that every program must have. Vinnie’s approach to teaching our young men is very aggressive, as is his coaching in games. His knowledge of infield play and base running has made him a very effective Tiger coach.  Like Coach Sanchez, Vinnie spends countless hours training, teaching and mentoring our young men throughout the year.  I am very grateful for his energy, commitment and dedication to our program."  Manny Torres

Technique Tigers/Future Stars Baseball Academy Coach:

JOHNNY DEL VECCHIO

Johnny DelVecchio Sr. has been a coach in the Technique Tigers Future Stars Baseball Academy for four years.  Johnny works with outfield play throughout the program.  Coach John played high school baseball at Fairfield Prep in Fairfield, CT.  After Fairfield Prep, John played at Division I - Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH.  As an amateur ballplayer with Bellows Baseball Club, Bridgeport, CT from 1999-2008, he was named league MVP in 2003, Sportsman of the Year 2004 and captured a NABF title in 1996 with Stratford Ale House. DelVecchio was named regional MVP as well as NABF National Tournament 1996 All-Tournament Team. He's been an active Little League coach from 2004 to present.  He also coached the 2010 12U Technique Tigers who finished with a 46-4 record and won the 12U CABA World Series in Sylvania, OH.

Technique Tigers/Future Stars Baseball Academy Coach:

DANNY RIVERA

Danny is a graduate of Housatonic Community College with an Associates Degree of Science.  Danny received the Who’s Who in American Junior Colleges in recognition of outstanding merit and accomplishment while attending HCC. Danny is a Certified Weight Training and Strength Training Specialist by International Weightlifting Association.  Danny is a Connecticut State Certified Coach. Specializes as a Physical Therapist Assistant at Rehabilitation Associates Inc. Coaching sports for over 10 years, he believe honesty, respect ethics, sportsmanship and hard work are the key elements in teaching youth athletics.

Danny has worked with the 6-9 Gray Division for 3 years for the Technique Future Stars Baseball Academy.

“Danny brings ENERGY to our program! His enthusiasm and positive personality plays a big role when dealing with our athletes during conditioning. He is a motivator who has a unique, effective way of communicating with our athletes. His knowledge of sports training is second to none as he has over 10 years experience as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Danny is a huge asset to the progress of our young athletes when it comes to conditioning. Our kids really enjoy working with Danny as they are guaranteed to get stronger, faster, and more educated about the functionalities of the human body." Manny Torres

Technique Tigers/Future Stars Baseball Coach:

Joe Pagan

Joseph M. Pagan was born a twin with his brother Michael in Bridgeport, CT in 1984. He attended High Horizons Magnet then Central Magnet in Bridgeport where he excelled as a three sport athlete in Basketball where he played until his junior season to focus on his other two passions, Football where he was a two year Varsity Starter at Quarterback receiving scholarship offers to Sacred Heart Univ., Wagner College, and interests from several Junior Colleges and even the University of Michigan. But Baseball was his love and at Central he made an immediate impact as a Four Year Varsity Starter with the Hilltoppers receiving several All-FCIAC Honors from his Sophomore through Senior Year.

Joe signed a National letter if intent to play for the Owls of Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT. There Joe became an intricate part of the Fighting Owls success from 2002-2005 where SCSU made first time Championship Honors in the Northeast-10 Conference and winning the 2005 Northeast Regional Championship qualifying Southern to make its first ever appearance at the Division II College World Series in Montgomery, Alabama. In his Senior season at Southern Joe was named Team Captain and lead the Owls to a second straight Regional Championship game, ending his career at Southern with Northeast-10 All Conference Honors, Regional Tournament All Tournament First Team honors but most importantly graduating in 2006 with his B.A. in Communication.

In January of 2007 Joe picked up and moved to Orlando, Florida to pursue his baseball life. Joe signed a Free Agent Contract with the Continental Independent Baseball League taking his talents to Dallas Fort-Worth, Texas. There Joe became the Face of the Tarrant County Blue Thunder Franchise capturing League All-Star Honors batting an impressive .357 leading the league in RBI (54) and Homeruns (20) in 07, winning the CBL Championship and being named CBL Championship Series MVP in the process. 2008 Led Joe to being traded to the Schaumberg Flyers of the Northern Independent Baseball League in Chicago, IL. He was sent back to Dallas half way through the 2008 Season where he was named to the League All-Star team for the 2^nd consecutive year and finished out his playing career.

           Joe came back to his roots in Bridgeport at the end of 2008 working on his life after baseball utilizing his degree. In 2010 Joe became a Correction Officer for the State of CT. He now lives in Bridgeport with his fiancé and his 8 month old son Caleb and joins the Tiger Program ready to give back to the city that allowed him to travel throughout the U.S. pursuing his baseball dreams.

President of Future Stars Sports Academy:

JIM OLAYOS

Jim Olayos has been involved in sports for over thirty years as both a player and coach.  He is presently the Athletic Director at St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, CT.  In September 2000, he was selected as America’s "Most Caring Coach" by USA Today Weekend Magazine.  In 2001, he was the recipient of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA "Strong Kid’s Award".  In 2003, he was voted one of the top 100 most influential people in Connecticut High School Sports.  His sports/educational program has been featured in the New York Times and he has lectured and presented his program for the Frank McGuire Foundation, The After School Corporation ("TASC"), the National Alliance For Youth Sports ("NAYS") and Youth Basketball of America ("YBOA").  His program has been featured in both the New York Times and USA Today.

Jim attended Fairfield University and Quinnipiac School of Law.  During those years, he was also the head coach of Masuk High School in Monroe, receiving the New York Daily News ”Coach of the Year" Award.  After graduating from law school, he also served as an assistant coach at the University of Bridgeport under New England’s all-time winningest basketball coach, Bruce Webster.  He has been an assistant coach at St. Joseph High School under the State of Connecticut’s all-time winningest coach, Vito Montelli and assisted in the McDonald’s All American game in Indianapolis in 1991, where he coached NBA All Star, Grant Hill.

Jim has recently retired from his law practice of twenty years to devote himself to the Future Stars Children’s Foundation of which he serves as Executive Director.  Through his involvement with Future Stars and as Athletic Director at St. Joseph High School, Jim is able to share his sports knowledge along with his concern for children. Jim and his wife, Kim, have four boys and reside in Shelton, CT.

"Coach Olayos has been a mentor to me for a very long time, since my days of playing for Coach Montelli at St. Joseph High School. He is the type of person that I listen very closely to during conversation because I know I am guaranteed to learn something. He is a tireless worker who leads by example and I am blessed to learn from him. His commitment to sports and kids is something I admire about him, but what I admire most is his vision to help others." Manny Torres